Philippe becomes king of Belgium Philippe becomes king of Belgium Belgium will get a new king when Albert's son, Philippe, takes the oath. Post to Facebook Philippe becomes king of Belgium Belgium will get a new king when Albert's son, Philippe, takes the oath. Check out this story on USATODAY.com: CancelSend A link has been sent to your friend's email address. Posted! A link has been posted to your Facebook feed. 7 To find out more about Facebook commenting please read the Conversation Guidelines and FAQs Philippe becomes king of Belgium Raf Casert and Mike Corder, Associated Press Published 4:57 a.m. ET July 21, 2013 | Updated 12:28 p.m. ET July 21, 2013 CLOSE x Share King Philippe I became Belgium's seventh monarch on Sunday's national day after his father Albert abdicated as the head of the fractured nation. (July 21) AP Prince Philippe of Belgium takes his oath following the abdication of his father King Albert II at the Federal Parliament on Sunday in Brussels.

(Photo: Getty Images) Belgium's King Albert abdicates after a 20-year reign Son takes oath as the nation's seventh king 79-year-old Albert signed away his rights as the kingdom's largely ceremonial ruler BRUSSELS - King Philippe I became Belgium's seventh monarch during a national holiday on Sunday after his father Albert abdicated as the head of this fractured nation. After he took the oath at the parliament filled with representatives of the 6 million Dutch-speaking Flemings and 4.5 million Francophones, Philippe insisted "the wealth of our nation and our institutions consists in turning our diversity into a strength." The ceremony capped a day of transition which started when Philippe's father, the 79-year-old Albert, signed away his rights as the kingdom's largely ceremonial ruler at the royal palace in the presence of Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo, who holds the political power in this 183-year-old parliamentary democracy. Less than two hours later, the nation got a new king While crowds of well-wishers cheered the royal family's every move Sunday, far from everybody in Belgium was happy with the new king.when Philippe, 53, pledged to abide by Belgium's laws and constitution.

One Flemish separatist group, the Flemish Interest party, boycotted the parliamentary ceremony, while the legislature's biggest party, the N-VA New Flemish Alliance, sent only a limited delegation without its leader, Bart De Wever. "We are full-blooded democrats and the purest form of democracy is the republic," said Jan Jambon, the parliamentary leader of the party, which has surged to become the main opposition party seeking Flemish independence through transition. Their absence also highlighted one of the biggest challenges Philippe will face in his reign — how to remain relevant as a unitary symbol in a nation ever more drifting apart between the northern Flemings and the southern Francophones. Philippe made no attempt to paper over those cracks, instead casting the country's division as one of its strengths. "Time and again we find the balance between unity and diversity," King Philippe said. "Belgium's strength is precisely that we make room for our differences." There was enough unity on show when the new royal couple appeared at the palace's balcony cheered by some 10,000 well-wishers braving the relentless sun and 30C (86F) heat.

Flanked by huge bouquets of white roses, lilies and gerbera, King Philippe kissed new Queen Mathilde's hand and got a peck on the cheek in return. President Obama sent the new king congratulations, said American National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden. "The president also sends his heartfelt appreciation to King Albert II for his warmth, service, and leadership as he steps down after nearly 20 years," the statement said. "Belgium is a valued friend of the United States, and the president looks forward to continuing to deepen this bond in the years to come." Unlike a disturbance during the oath-taking by King Albert 20 years ago, when one legislator shouted "Long live the European Republic," Sunday's ceremony in the packed legislature was flawless, with Albert and Philippe's wife, Queen Mathilde, looking on as he confidently took the oath. Philippe has long been contested as a worthy successor of Albert, but after years of wooden and timid public performances, the silver-haired, bespectacled monarch came over as confident and pressure proof. "Belgium is modernizing itself and it gives me joy," Albert said.

In a rare show of public affection for his son, the two embraced warmly when Albert signed away his rights as the kingdom's largely ceremonial ruler at the royal palace. Under crystal chandeliers in a gilded hall at the royal palace, Prime Minister Di Rupo called Albert "a great head of state" and told the outgoing king, "You are closing an important page in the history of our country." (Photo: David Stockman, AFP/Getty Images) Albert announced his abdication plans less than three weeks ago, so there was little time to turn the occasion into a huge international event. No foreign royals were at the ceremony. Since the royal transition coincides with Belgium's national day celebrations, a military parade had already been planned. Philippe will face a tough task in the coming months. The fractious nation, divided by language, holds parliamentary elections in June 2014 amid calls for even more autonomy for the language groups. And perhaps even less power for the king himself. Up to now, the king is still involved in government formation talks by picking go-betweens and brokers to set up multiparty coalitions reaching across the linguistic divide. Anti-royalists consider even this too much power.

"There is only one place where he belongs and that's in fairytales," said Michel Mischeenaker, an anti-royalist activist who stood outside the church where Sunday's ceremonies started. After the last elections in 2010, it took a record 541 days before a government could be formed amid bickering about how much more power should be sapped from the central state to profit the separate language groups. Then, as likely next year, the N-VA will play a key role. Unlike his five predecessors, Albert tried to avoid politics as much as possible and Philippe is expected to do likewise. Philippe has been groomed for the job as a leader of foreign trade delegations over the past two decades. "He is a very wise person, a person who is very well prepared," said EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, who attended the ceremony. "He knows the politics of Belgium and Europe very well." 247 CONNECT TWEET LINKEDIN 7 COMMENTEMAILMORE Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Read or Share this story: NEVER MISS OUT The Short List Let us bring the headlines to you every night. Stay current and catch up on the biggest stories of the day. Belgium's King Albert abdicates on grounds of ill-health - Telegraph Belgium Belgium's King Albert abdicates on grounds of ill-health King Albert II of Belgium has announced his abdication, the first time a Belgian monarch has voluntarily stepped down, amid ill health and a court case over his alleged paternity of an illegitimate daughter. Belgium's King Albert Photo: REUTERS Follow In an unexpected address to the nation, the king, aged 79, announced that he would formally abdicate in favour of his son, Crown Prince Philippe on July 21, Belgium's national day. "I am at an age never attained by my predecessors. I have noticed that my age and health no longer allow me to fulfill my job as I should have wished. I would not meet my duties and not honour my view of the royal function if I stuck to my post at all costs," he said. "It's a question of elementary respect for the institutions and of respect towards you.

Following a twenty year reign I am of the opinion that the moment has come to hand the torch on to the next generation." "I want to tell you now that it was an honour and a joy to devote a large part of my life to the service of this country and its people." King Albert who has played a critical role in holding Belgium together as a country over the last three years is approaching his 20th anniversary on the throne, after taking over from his brother Baudouin of Belgium who died on 31 July 1993, aged 62. Related Articles Flemish fury as Belgium's king links separatism to fascism 27 Dec 2012 The king is known to be in ill-health and exhausted after a difficult five years for Belgium where deep divisions between Flemish Dutch-speakers and French-speaking Walloons have pushed the country to the brink of break-up. As well as playing the difficult role of national mediator, King Albert has faced a number of royal scandals that have damaged the standing of the monarchy, including a current court case brought by an aristocratic artist alleging that she is his illegitimate daughter.

"Queen Paola and I will never forget the ties that have grown between the people and us during the course of the years. Thank you for your confidence, tokens of sympathy and support, sometimes even with a little criticism. We always loved you," he said, in his only acknowledgement of the scandals of recent years. King Albert II will be the first Belgian monarch to voluntarily relinquish his throne. His father Leopold III, was forced to abdicate in favour of Baudouin, in the aftermath of the Second World War, after controversially remaining as Belgian monarch under Nazi occupation. Six years after he succeeded his brother, King Albert became embroiled in a major royal scandal when he was alleged to be the father of an illegimate daughter, Delphine Boel, and suffered a major crisis in his marriage with Queen Paola. The issue of his alleged illegitimate daughter has come to the fore again in recent weeks after Ms Boel opened court proceedings to demand a paternity DNA test of Prince Philippe to prove she is the king's daughter .

In recent months Prince Phillippe has suggested that he is ready to take over the throne, a succession that mirrors the abdication of Holland's Queen Beatrix in favour of her son King Willem-Alexander this spring. Prince Philippe, 53, is a trained fighter pilot and parachutist with degrees from Trinity College, Oxford and Stanford University. He will take over on the 21 July anniversary of the inauguration of the first Belgian king in 1831. He is married to Belgian-born Princess Mathilde with four children. His daughter Princess Elizabeth, 11, will be the next in line to the throne. "Prince Philippe is well prepared. He and Princess Mathilde have my entire confidence. The future is in good hands," said King Albert. "So it is with serenity and confidence that I announce I intend to abdicate." King Albert is known to be disillusioned and upset over Belgium's divisions between northern, Dutch-speaking Flanders has been seeking increasing autonomy at the expense of southern, French-speaking Wallonia.

Many believe the political strife has worn the king out, especially the world record 541 days that he was royal mediator between squabbling communities when Belgium was without a government following elections in 2010 where Flemish republican separatists became the country's largest party. The abdication will give Prince Philippe, who is not popular in Flanders, time to make his mark as king before difficult national elections in 2014. He will take the oath of allegiance to the Belgian Constitution on the same day as his father's formal abdication before a meeting of both houses of Belgium's parliament. "The abdication will enable the future king to take on the mantle and to meet political leaders ahead of the elections. Everyone fears a repeat of the 2010-2011 crisis," said Caroline Van Wynsberghe, a political scientist at the Brussels ULB university. Early this year the Belgian royal family was rocked by scandal over the tax arrangements of Queen Fabiola , 84, who has been paid an annual public stipend of over £1 million since the death of King Baudouin in 1993.

Earlier this month, the government introduced extra taxes and a reduced civil list meaning that only the king, the heir and his or her spouse and also the widow or widower of a deceased monarch will continue to receive money from the state. A king who abdicates will also receive an allowance. "His decision deserves our admiration. Albert II was not born to be king. But thanks to his enthusiasm, empathy, humour, he became for 20 years fully our king," said Elio Di Rupo, the Belgian prime minister. Belgium's King Albert II announces abdication - BBC News BBC News Belgium's King Albert II announces abdication 3 July 2013 Media captionKing Albert: "The time has come to pass the flame to the next generation" The King of the Belgians, Albert II, has announced his abdication. In a national televised address, the 79-year-old monarch said he would step down in favour of his son Crown Prince Philippe, 53, on 21 July, Belgium's national day. He said his health was no longer good enough to fulfil his duties, and he would step down after nearly 20 years on the throne.

King Albert was sworn in as the sixth king of the Belgians on 9 August 1993. His accession to the throne followed the death of his brother, King Baudouin, at the age of 62. "I realise that my age and my health are no longer allowing me to carry out my duties as I would like to," he said in his address. "Prince Philippe is well prepared to succeed me." King Albert met the Belgian government's cabinet earlier on Wednesday to inform them of his decision, Belgian state TV reported. Royal scandal Analysis By Matthew PriceBBC News, Brussels This is a small but pivotal nation in Europe. The headquarters of the European Union. And yet Belgium is a country increasingly divided between its Dutch (Flemish) and French-speaking regions. In recent years King Albert II has been part of the glue that just about holds this nation together. He intervened decisively when, for more than a year, Belgium's politicians could not form a government. What might his abdication mean for a country whose national unity is under strain more than ever before from regional forces? All Flemish political parties would like to reduce the role of the king, and some would abolish the monarchy.

Much will depend on King Albert II's son and heir, Philippe. His style and personal touch could well help determine whether Belgium in the coming years remains united, or continues to split. After he succeeded his brother, King Albert became embroiled in a major royal scandal when he was alleged to be the father of an out-of-wedlock daughter, Delphine Boel, and suffered a crisis in his marriage with Queen Paola. That issue came to the fore again this spring when Ms Boel opened court proceedings to prove she was the king's daughter. There is some speculation in the media that this may have influenced his decision to abdicate. Belgium has a constitutional monarchy in which the king plays a largely ceremonial role. One of the duties the monarch does have is trying to resolve constitutional crises. King Albert exercised his authority in mediating between political leaders on the formation of a government during the 2010-2011 parliamentary stalemate, when Belgium was left without a government for 541 days after elections failed to find a clear winner. Tensions between the two main language communities of Flemish and French sometimes run high, and the issue has brought down several governments, creating frequent political instability.

Respect for the royal family, though, is one of the few factors that crosses the communal divide. King Albert's announcement comes only three months after Queen Beatrix of the neighbouring Netherlands vacated the Dutch throne in favour of her son Willem-Alexander. Belgium: New King Philippe pays homage to father Albert II - YouTube Belgium: New King Philippe pays homage to father Albert II Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Jul 21, 2013 Philippe has become the seventh King of the Belgians, following the abdication of his father King... euronews, the most watched news channel in Europe Subscribe for your daily dose of international news, curated and explained: Euronews is available in 13 other languages: Philippe has become the seventh King of the Belgians, following the abdication of his father King Albert II after 20 years on the throne.

He was sworn in during a ceremony in parliament, saying: "I swear to respect to constitution and the laws of the Belgian people, to maintain the independence of the country and to safeguard the territory." Philippe, 53, paid homage to his father as he stepped into his shoes. "Sire, for 20 years you have maintained confidence by showing that on one hand you're close to everybody, warm and deeply human - and on the other hand, you're full of attention and commitment while doing your tasks as head of state," the new king told parliament. Celebrations for Philippe's swearing-in have been combined with festivities already planned for Sunday, Belgium's National Day. Tensions between the Dutch-speaking and French communities creates frequent political instability. Like his father before him, King Philippe will be expected to bridge that divide. Find us on: Belgium's King Albert II gives up throne to son - CNN.com Belgium's King Albert II gives up throne to son By Ben Brumfield, CNN Updated 12:06 PM ET, Sun July 21, 2013 Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds.

Photos: King Albert II of Belgium to abdicate – King Albert II of Belgium announced Wednesday, July 3, that he will abdicate the throne on July 21. His son, Crown Prince Philippe, will succeed him. Here the king attends a tribute to the unknown soldier on November 11, 2012, in Brussels, Belgium. Hide Caption 1 of 5 Photos: King Albert II of Belgium to abdicate – King Albert II shakes hands with Giacinto Berloco, the Vatican's prelate to Belgium and Luxembourg, while he and Queen Paola attend a reception at the Palais de Bruxelles on January 9 in Brussels. Hide Caption 2 of 5 Photos: King Albert II of Belgium to abdicate – Queen Paola and King Albert II in Luxembourg after the wedding of that nation's Prince Guillaume of and Princess Stephanie on October 20, 2012. Hide Caption 3 of 5 Photos: King Albert II of Belgium to abdicate – Queen Paola and King Albert II attend the National Day Parade at Place des Palais on July 21, 2011 in Brussels.

Hide Caption 4 of 5 Photos: King Albert II of Belgium to abdicate – King Albert II and Queen Paola pose in front of the Charles Bridge and Prague Castle on October 24, 2000, in Prague, Czech Republic. Hide Caption King Philippe is sworn in as king of Belgium on Sunday in Brussels His father, Albert II, stepped down an hour earlier Belgium also gained a queen, Philippe's wife Mathilde Former Crown Prince Philippe was sworn in as king of Belgium on Sunday after his father abdicated the throne an hour before. Albert II of Belgium gave up his throne over concerns about his advanced age. "I have noticed how my age and my health have not permitted me to exercise my duties the way I would like to," the 79-year-old said in an address to the nation. King Philippe, 53, was educated in public schools in Belgium's two major languages, Flemish and French, and later attended the royal military academy, where he trained to be a fighter pilot. Belgium, which is home to the European Union capital of Brussels, has also gained a queen in Mathilde, Philippe's wife. She is the daughter of a count and countess and graduated with a degree in speech therapy.

Albert's abdication follows that of the Netherlands' Queen Beatrice earlier this year and that of Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican. European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has praised Albert for the move. "I wish to express to him my sincere thanks for his tireless efforts in the service of Belgium and Europe," Barroso said in a statement. Throughout his 20-year reign, Albert "has never ceased to be a staunch defender of the values that are the basis of the European construction," Barroso said. The Belgian royal family has had less luck promoting cohesion within its own country, which is culturally split between ethnic Flemish Dutch people in the north, ethnic French people in the south and a small group of ethnic Germans in the east. Separatist ideas have sprouted particularly in the Flemish region, which has a stronger economy. Coronation: Philippe becomes Belgium’s 7th king after his father Albert abdicates | Toronto Star World Coronation: Philippe becomes Belgium’s 7th king after his father Albert abdicates But several legislators from northern Flanders boycotted King Philippe I’s coronation, highlighting longstanding feuding between the nation’s Dutch-speaking Flemings and Francophones.

▶ Philippe ascended the throne of Belgium as its seventh king on Sunday amid a splurge of National Day celebrations, pledging to strive to keep the linguistically-split nation united.(AFP) By Raf Casert And Mike CorderAssociated Press Sun., July 21, 2013 BRUSSELS—Belgians shouted “Long live the king” Sunday to welcome their new monarch to the throne on a sunny national holiday. But several legislators from northern Flanders boycotted King Philippe I’s coronation, highlighting longstanding feuding between the nation’s Dutch-speaking Flemings and Francophones — the biggest challenge the new monarch will face. In his first speech as king shortly after his father King Albert II abdicated, Philippe made no attempt to paper over those cracks, instead casting the country’s division between its 6 million Dutch-speaking Flemings and 4.5 million Francophones as one of its strengths. “The wealth of our nation and our institutions consists in turning our diversity into a strength,” he said after taking his oath of office at the country’s parliament.

Article Continued Below The ceremony capped a day of transition which started when Philippe’s father, the 79-year-old Albert, signed away his rights as the kingdom’s largely ceremonial ruler at the royal palace in the presence of Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo, who holds the political power in this 183-year-old parliamentary democracy. Belgium's King Albert II and Queen Paola wave to the crowd as they stand on the balcony of the City Hall in Liege, Belgium, during the last day of their 3-day farewell tour on Friday July 19, 2013. (Geert Vanden Wijngaert / AP) Anti-royalists and separatists of the far right movement 'Voorpost' protest the farewell tour of Belgian King Albert II.

(Yves Logghe / AP) In attendance for the coronation: (Back row, front-back) Prince Laurent of Belgium, Princess Claire of Belgium, Prince Lorenz of Belgium, Princess Astrid of Belgium, (Centre row) Queen Paola of Belgium, King Albert II of Belgium, Princess Mathilde of Belgium, Queen Fabiola of Belgium, (R row) Princess Eleonore, Prince Gabriel, Princess Elisabeth and Prince Emmanuel attend the oath taking ceremony of the new Belgian king at the Chamber at the Federal Parliament in Brussels, on the Belgian National Day Sunday 21 July 2013. (BRECHT GORIS / AFP/GETTY IMAGES) King Philippe of Belgium stands in front of the throne during a swearing in ceremony at the Belgian Parliament in Brussels July 21, 2013. (POOL / REUTERS) Less than two hours later, the nation got its seventh king when Philippe, 53, pledged to abide by Belgium’s laws and constitution. While crowds of well-wishers cheered the royal family’s every move Sunday, far from everybody in Belgium was happy with the new king.

One Flemish separatist group, the Flemish Interest party, boycotted the parliamentary ceremony, while the legislature’s biggest party, the N-VA New Flemish Alliance, sent only a limited delegation. “We are full-blooded democrats and the purest form of democracy is the republic,” said Jan Jambon, the parliamentary leader of the alliance, which has surged to become the main opposition party seeking Flemish independence through democratic transition. It wants the new king not to have any role in coalition negotiations to form a new government, not be head of the armed forces and not sign any laws. The small N-VA delegation highlighted one of the biggest challenges Philippe will face in his reign — how to remain relevant as a unitary symbol in a nation ever more drifting apart between the prosperous northern Flemings and the economically struggling southern Francophones. Briefly, at least, the differences took a back seat Sunday as the new royal couple appeared on the palace’s balcony cheered by some 10,000 well-wishers braving the relentless sun and 30C (86F) heat.

Flanked by huge bouquets of white roses, lilies and gerbera, King Philippe kissed new Queen Mathilde’s hand and got a peck on the cheek in return. President Barack Obama sent the new king congratulations. “The president also sends his heartfelt appreciation to King Albert II for his warmth, service, and leadership as he steps down after nearly 20 years,” the U.S. government statement said. “Belgium is a valued friend of the United States, and the president looks forward to continuing to deepen this bond in the years to come.” Unlike a disturbance during the oath-taking by King Albert II 20 years ago, when one legislator shouted “Long live the European Republic,” Sunday’s ceremony in the packed legislature went off without a hitch, with Albert and Philippe’s wife, Queen Mathilde, looking on as he confidently took the oath. Philippe has long been contested as a worthy successor of Albert, but after years of wooden and timid public performances, the silver-haired, bespectacled monarch came over as poised on the day he had been groomed for all of his adult life.

“Belgium is modernizing itself and it gives me joy,” Albert said as he signed away his rights as the kingdom’s largely ceremonial ruler at the royal palace. Albert announced his abdication plans less than three weeks ago, so there was little time to turn the occasion into a huge international event. No foreign royals were at the ceremony. Since the royal transition coincides with Belgium’s national day celebrations, a military parade had already been planned. Philippe will face a tough task in the coming months. The nation holds parliamentary elections in June 2014 amid calls, led by the N-VA for even more autonomy for the language groups. And perhaps even less power for the king himself. Up to now, the monarch is still involved in government formation talks by picking go-betweens and brokers to set up multiparty coalitions reaching across the linguistic divide. Anti-royalists consider even that too much power. “There is only one place where he belongs and that’s in fairytales,” said Michel Mischeenaker, an anti-royalist activist who stood outside the church where Sunday’s ceremonies started.

After the last elections in 2010, it took a record 541 days to form a government amid bickering about how much more power should be sapped from the central state to profit the separate language groups. Then, as likely next year, the N-VA will play a key role. Unlike his five predecessors, Albert tried to avoid politics as much as possible and Philippe is expected to do likewise. Philippe has prepared for the monarchy as a leader of foreign trade delegations over the past two decades. “He is a very wise person, a person who is very well prepared,” said EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, who attended the ceremony. “He knows the politics of Belgium and Europe very well.” Belgium’s King Albert Steps Down Seeking Unity in Divided Nation - Bloomberg Bloomberg the Company & Its Products Bloomberg Anywhere Remote LoginBloomberg Anywhere Login Bloomberg Terminal Demo Request Bloomberg Connecting decision makers to a dynamic network of information, people and ideas, Bloomberg quickly and accurately delivers business and financial information, news and insight around the world. Customer Support Advertising Bloomberg Connecting decision makers to a dynamic network of information, people and ideas, Bloomberg quickly and accurately delivers business and financial information, news and insight around the world.

Customer Support Belgium’s King Albert Steps Down Seeking Unity in Divided Nation James G. Neuger King Albert II of Belgium announced his abdication, trying to smooth the path to next year’s elections in a country torn between the richer Dutch-speaking north and poorer French-speaking south. Albert, 79, said he will end almost 20 years as the titular head of state and hand over to his eldest son, Prince Philippe, on July 21, the anniversary of the inauguration of the first Belgian king in 1831. “My age and my health no longer permit me to exercise my functions as I would like,” the king said on national television late yesterday. “It would be a dereliction of duty and of my understanding of the royal role to try to remain in power at any cost.” Belgium’s constitutional monarchs play a more prominent role in public life than other crowned heads of Europe, serving as symbols of unity and top-level political deal makers in a country of 11 million people divided between languages and economic culture.

Sectional divisions have intensified during Albert’s reign, with a separatist party emerging as the dominant political force in Flanders, the northern region that is home to Europe’s second-largest port and companies such as Anheuser-Busch InBev NV, the world’s largest brewer. The contrast with Wallonia, the southern region that had its heyday during the era of coal and steel, is so stark that a 2005 study on the north-south wealth gap was deemed too sensitive to be repeated. It found that Flanders funneled 5.8 billion euros ($7.5 billion), or 967 euros per Fleming, to the Francophone region that year. ‘Political Opportunity’ “Flemish nationalism was never as strong as today,” Vincent Dujardin, a professor at the Catholic University of Leuven, said on RTBF television. He called the sudden handover “a political opportunity to be seized” to tamp down separatist sentiment in the run-up to elections in May 2014. The abdication gives Philippe, 53, time to settle in to his new duties before the balloting.

In a nod to skepticism in Flanders about the nature of the monarchy, Albert said that the royal role “must continue to evolve over time.” Albert’s early departure comes after jobs-for-life were abandoned by Pope Benedict XVI and Queen Beatrix of the neighboring Netherlands. Unlike his Dutch counterpart, Albert presided over a country that increasingly questioned whether it would stay in one piece. The king’s deepest venture into steering the country came after the election of June 2010 led to 541 days of feuding between political parties over the formation of a government, Belgium’s longest political vacuum. Popular Protests Albert oversaw eight attempts to mediate the stalemate, appointing fixers who were variously labeled “adviser,” “mediator,” “negotiator” and “pre-former.” At one point, the monarch reached into his terminological toolbox and named a “clarifier.” Popular protests of the do-nothing politics reflected Belgium’s talent for self-mockery, with student groups promoting a “French Fry Revolution” and one clique of men giving up shaving until a government emerged.

The same mindset was behind a website that posted a Google-like error message “Government Not Found.” Le Soir, the country’s leading French-language newspaper, staged a raffle to guess when a government would be formed, offering the lucky winner his or her weight in waffles, a favored Belgian snack. Six-Party Coalition The brinkmanship ended in December 2011 with Elio Di Rupo, a Socialist, becoming the first native French speaker to run Belgium since the 1970s. Di Rupo’s six-party coalition is most noted for one party outside it, the N-VA, the Flemish separatist party now riding an increase in poll ratings with 10 months to the next election. “The king has an essential role, and we saw it in 2010, to be the architect -- not on his own of course -- of defusing political crises,” Marc Uyttendaele, a professor at the Free University of Brussels, said on RTBF television. “It’s a power that sets the Belgian monarchy apart from the purely ceremonial monarchies of Scandinavia.” Albert was the sixth king of the Belgians, in a line dating back to Leopold I in 1831.

Born in Brussels on June 6, 1934, Albert lost his mother, Queen Astrid, in a car accident in Switzerland when he was a year old. On May 10, 1940, the royal children fled before advancing German troops to France and on to Spain, only to return in August to live under Nazi occupation. Western Allies Albert was deported with the rest of the royal household to Germany in 1944. On May 7, 1945, the day before World War II ended, the family, by now in Austria, was liberated by U.S. troops. Postwar Belgium was roiled by accusations that Albert’s father, Leopold III, backstabbed the western allies and harbored pro-German sympathies. Leopold stepped down in 1951, putting Albert’s elder brother, Baudouin, on the throne. Albert’s lot was typical of modern-day royals who never expected to get the top job. He chaperoned trade missions, presided over the national savings and pensions fund, headed the Red Cross, and promoted environmental causes.

The sudden death of the childless Baudouin in 1993 forced a second career upon him. At 59, Albert became the oldest man to assume the Belgian throne, swearing an oath to “defend the nation’s independence and territorial integrity.” That job will fall to Philippe, a trained fighter pilot and parachutist who also has degrees from Trinity College, Oxford and Stanford University. Philippe has four children with Mathilde d’Udekem d’Acoz, a Belgian aristocrat whom he married at the Brussels town hall in 1999. Business Promotion During two decades as king in waiting, Philippe performed many of the same tasks as Albert before him, leading around 70 trade missions to places such as Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Brazil and India. The latest business-promotion effort took him to California and photo ops with Mickey Mouse at Disneyland last month. Escorting 170 Belgian businesspeople to Thailand in March, the prince faced mounting speculation that his promotion would soon be at hand. Asked by Belgian television during that trip whether he was prepared to take over, he said: “We’ll see when the time comes.” Before it's here, it's on the Bloomberg Terminal.

The King | The Belgian Monarchy History The King His Majesty the King was born in Brussels on 15 April 1960. He is the eldest son of King Albert II and Queen Paola and the grandson of King Leopold III and Queen Astrid. Following the abdication of his father, King Albert, Prince Philippe was sworn in before the combined chambers of parliament on 21 July 2013 as the seventh King of the Belgians. He married Mathilde d'Udekem d'Acoz in 1999. The King was educated bilingually (in Dutch and French) at Belgian state primary and secondary schools, and then at the Belgian Royal Military Academy, a bilingual higher education establishment. Inspired by a passion for flying and space adventure since childhood, he chose to join the Air Force, where he qualified as a fighter pilot. He completed his military training with the para-commando course. He then left Belgium to continue his academic studies abroad. After one term at Trinity College, Oxford (United Kingdom), he spent two years at Stanford University in the USA, where he graduated with an MA in Political Science.

Returning to Belgium in 1985, he began to learn about his country's political, social and economic realities. Over the next eight years he got to know Belgium and its people through numerous visits, meetings, conferences and missions. This gave him a thorough understanding of the country and its workings. Also during this time, the young Prince Philippe acquired an in-depth knowledge of areas of particular personal interest, such as history, literature and philosophy. His study tours enabled him to meet all kinds of committed people, both leaders and ordinary citizens. He also closely followed the European integration process. In addition, he gained various experiences in the humanitarian field. The death of King Baudouin in 1993 marked a turning point in the Prince's life. Following the accession of his father King Albert II, Philippe became heir apparent to the throne at the age of 33. From this time on, his public role became established. In line with the major issues of the time, his main areas of involvement were international missions to promote the Belgian economy and Belgium's image abroad, sustainable development, dialogue between Belgium's various communities, support for vulnerable people and the nurturing of talent.

Prince Philippe engaged in close dialogue with politicians, granting them audiences and working alongside them on missions and other activities. Prince Philippe took over the Honorary Presidency of the Belgian Foreign Trade Agency (BFTA) in 1993. In this capacity, he led 85 economic missions abroad over the next 20 years. He built bridges between Belgian and foreign companies as well as between Belgian companies. Following his accession to the throne in 2013, he has remained Honorary Chairman of the BFTA but has asked his sister Princess Astrid to represent him on economic missions. Another of King Philippe's primary concerns is sustainable development. From 1993 to 2013, he was Honorary Chairman of the Federal Council for Sustainable Development, which brings together economic, social, environmental and scientific bodies from around the country to formulate recommendations to the federal government. In the same vein, he also agreed to become Honorary Chairman of the International Polar Foundation. He has been active in supporting dialogue between Belgium's three language communities of French-, Dutch- and German-speakers.

The Prince Philippe Fund was set up in 1998 to promote dialogue between citizens from the different communities, in order to foster greater mutual recognition and respect for their individual identities and cultures. Aware of the many possible forms of marginalisation, the King takes every opportunity to meet with its victims. Here too, he experiences human frailty at first hand, whether it is caused by illness, social exclusion, accidents or natural disasters. The King supports Belgian talent in all its manifestations, including sportsmen and women, artists, scientists, explorers and gifted young people, and follows them all with great interest. King Philippe and Queen Mathilde combine their family life with ceremonial and official duties. They personally supervise the education of their four children, Elisabeth, Gabriel, Emmanuel and Eléonore. The children enjoy a multilingual upbringing and attend school in Dutch. Holidays are spent with family and friends. In their free time, the King and Queen enjoy reading and playing sport. The King goes running regularly and took part in the Brussels 20km race in May 2013 and 2014.

Philippe becomes new Belgian king as Albert II abdicates - BBC News BBC News Philippe becomes new Belgian king as Albert II abdicates 21 July 2013 Close share panel Media captionHighlights from the abdication of Albert II and coronation of King Philippe Crown Prince Philippe has been sworn in as the new Belgian king after the emotional abdication of his father Albert II. The Oxford- and Stanford-educated, trained air force pilot took the oath as the country's seventh king in a ceremony in parliament. To warm applause, King Philippe, 53, promised to uphold the constitution. Belgium has a constitutional monarchy in which the king plays a largely ceremonial role. One of the duties the monarch does have is trying to resolve constitutional crises. In his final address before signing a legislative act to step down, 79-year-old King Albert said his country must remain a "source of inspiration" to Europe.

Image copyright AFP Image caption Albert II's final day as king began with a thanksgiving Mass at the St Michael and St Gudula Cathedral Image copyright AFP Image caption He hugged his son before signing the abdication treaty at the palace in Brussels Image copyright Reuters Image caption After a service celebrating Albert's 20 years on the throne, Philippe and his wife Mathilde waved to the crowd Image copyright Reuters Image caption They were joined by their children to wave to supporters from the royal palace balcony His resignation on the grounds of ill-health came after nearly 20 years on the throne and was timed to coincide with Belgium's national day. He stressed his wish that Belgium - split between the Dutch-speaking north and the French south - remained united. Balcony appearance In a colourful ceremony topped off by trumpet fanfare and cannon-fire, Philippe took his oath in the country's three official languages - Dutch, French and German. Analysis By Chris MorrisBBC News, Brussels Along with the national football team, the monarchy is often regarded as one of the few institutions that actually holds Belgium together. Even so, opinion polls suggest French-speaking Wallonia is now a good deal more royalist than Dutch-speaking Flanders, and the new king will have to convince some citizens of his credentials.

His big challenge will come next year when national elections are due to be held, and separatist parties in Flanders are expected to do well. After the last election it took more than 500 days to form a national government, because of the deep divisions between Flanders and Wallonia. As king, Philippe (or Filip in Dutch) has an important constitutional role to play, and he will need to prove that he has the political skills to mediate between very different visions of his country's future. This was a reminder of the delicate political task that awaits him - trying to mediate across the divide between French-speaking Wallonia and Dutch-speaking Flanders, where support for independence has been rising fast, says BBC Europe correspondent Chris Morris. Flag-waving supporters gathered in the midday sun waiting for their new king and his wife, Mathilde, to greet them from the balcony of the nearby royal palace. "The new king is a bit of history," said Xavier De Graef, draped in the red, yellow and black of the Belgian tricolour. "That doesn't happen very often so we wanted to be here," Mr De Graef, from French-speaking Liege, told Reuters news agency. But not everyone was celebrating.

The far-right separatist Vlaams Belang party boycotted the swearing-in ceremony. Meanwhile, Jan Jambon, parliamentary head of the N-VA party that wants Dutch-speaking Flanders to break away from Belgium and favours a republic, said the occasion "leaves me cold". Constitutional crises In the abdication ceremony at the royal palace in Brussels, the former monarch told his son: "You have all the emotional and intellectual qualities to serve our country well." He thanked an audience of some 250 dignitaries and political leaders "for all that you have achieved during my reign". Ex-king Albert also thanked his wife, Paola, for the support she had given him during his reign, and was in turn thanked by Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo for his service to his country. Mr Di Rupo holds the political power in the 183-year-old parliamentary democracy. Albert II then embraced his son and signed the official abdication papers, ending his reign.

King Albert exercised his authority in mediating between political leaders on the formation of a government during the 2010-2011 parliamentary stalemate, when Belgium was left without a government for 541 days after elections failed to find a clear winner. Tensions between the Dutch-speaking and French communities sometimes run high, and the issue has brought down several governments, creating frequent political instability. Respect for the royal family, though, is one of the few factors that crosses the communal divide. King Albert's abdication comes only three months after Queen Beatrix of the neighbouring Netherlands vacated the Dutch throne in favour of her son Willem-Alexander. Belgium's Prince Philippe pays tribute to father, King Albert II, after abdication - YouTube Belgium's Prince Philippe pays tribute to father, King Albert II, after abdication Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. The interactive transcript could not be loaded. Loading... Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later.

Published on Jul 5, 2013 Belgium's Prince Philippe pays tribute to father, King Albert II, after abdication Subscribe to the Guardian HERE: The crown prince of Belgium, Prince Philippe, pays tribute to his father, who has abdicated from the throne in his son's favour. King Albert II, who is 79, has served as king for 20 years. He says he is stepping down because of his age and health. Category

Question: Who, in 2013, became King of Belgium on the abdication of his father King Albert II?
Answer: Philippe